Tauranga fluoride tank leak delays dosing

Tauranga City Council says water remains safe to drink.

Fluoridation of drinking water from a plant supplying tens of thousands of households in eastern Tauranga remains suspended.

The city’s water started being fluoridated late last year, but in March a leak was identified in a fluoride tank at Waiāri Water Treatment Plant, a Tauranga City Council statement said.

“Repairing the tank was originally expected to take six weeks, however our contractor has deemed the tank irreparable and [is] manufacturing a new tank as a replacement.”

The replacement tank was anticipated to be operational in mid-June, the council said.

“This allows sufficient time to install, test and certify the new tank before bringing it online. Fluoride dosing at the Waiāri Water Treatment Plant will remain suspended until the replacement tank is operational.”

This primarily affected the water supply to residents east of Mount Maunganui’s Golf Rd.

The Waiāri Water Supply Scheme opened in 2023. Photo / Andrew Warner

The council said residents could be assured their water continued to be safe to drink.

The original fluoride tank was installed and brought into operation in November, when the council moved to comply with the Director-General of Health’s directive to fluoridate Tauranga’s water supply.

The tank was being replaced under warranty.

The council said it would keep residents informed of when the tank was back online and fluoride reintroduced to the Waiāri supply.

“We continue to update the Ministry of Health on progress to rectify the issue.”

The $197 million Waiāri plant opened in 2023 and, at the time, would supply drinking water to about 35,000 households in Pāpāmoa.

The council also has water treatment plants in Oropi and Joyce Rd, Pyes Pa.